For teams that seem to have trouble scoring goals, here are some coaching tips that can help you find the back of the net

Take more shots: Maybe your team isn’t scoring because they aren’t shooting enough? Some players prefer the ball on a silver platter before they will shoot, often giving up the element of surprise for a telegraphed finish. Good goalies know this, and have no problem adjusting if given the extra time. Fire more one and two touch shots, volleys and headers at the net, one will eventually sneak in.

Take better shots: This may seem to contradict the last point, but sometimes the problem isn’t quantity but quality. Usually the problem is selfishness, and players trying to do too much. I can’t tell you how many chances I have seen over the years wasted by players that either wanted to score on their own, or were not fully aware of what was developing around them on the field. There are two solutions. 1. Drill in your players head that soccer is a team game, which means that a goal for one player is a goal for everyone. 2. Keep your head up and stay engaged with how the play is developing. Don’t scare your players away from shooting, just help them realize that passing is the name of the game, and high probability shots as a result of wide open passes are how the majority of goals are scored.

Seize the moment: When a moment develops, you must seize on it. Teach your players how to realize when they have an opportunity. For example, a quick counter attack or restart can often catch the defense sleeping. A short corner can lead to a great chance. You can’t really teach soccer smarts, it comes as a result of practice and guidance. When a teachable moment arises, drive the point home.

Reward them: Never underestimate a cash payment for goals scored, just make sure you reward assists at the same rate! When I was 10, my Grandma paid $20/goal, and I can’t tell you how motivating that was. In all seriousness, it could be something as simple as patches or a pizza party for the team if they get more than 3 goals in the game. Find what it is that makes your players tick, and take advantage of it. Get my soccer practice plans

Learn how to beat opponents with the best skills and moves, courtesy of Coerver Coaching.

Are you ready to lead your soccer offense to victory? Whether you are a player, a coach, or a concerned parent, the first step to a great offensive game is to understand what traits and behaviors make the difference between an average forward and a superior one. Here are the seven key qualities of the very best offensive players and a few lessons you can learn from them.

1. They pay attention to the big picture. A good soccer player knows what’s going on in every section of the field, not just their third, and nowhere is this more important than offense. Most scores are made opportunistically–that is, the player who made the goal was simply taking advantage of an opportunity. If they hadn’t seen the opportunity, they wouldn’t have been able to benefit from it.

2. They support their teammates. No one can be the hero all the time, which is why great forwards always position themselves to maximize their teammates’ chances of scoring. They give their teammates options and help create a bubble between the ball and the opposing team’s defense. You will notice on the field that the better players are not necessarily the ball hogs.

3. They think ahead. You’ll see it in that quick glance around before making or collecting a pass. Great offensive players know what they are going to do with the ball before it even comes their way.

4. They are aggressive. When a great offensive player has the ball, they keep their elbows out and use their entire body to protect their space. They scare away the opposition by dribbling right toward them. There is no room for meekness in the game of soccer, especially not in the offense. Don’t confuse this spirit with flat out violence, however; a would-be good player is useless if they are out of the game due to a red card.

5. They keep it simple. A good offensive player is not the one with the most complicated moves and fakes, but the one who can consistently get the ball past the goal keeper or assist another player in doing so. Leave the fancy footwork to “Dancing With The Stars”.

6. They know when to hold back a little. When a great forward is surrounded, they will play the ball back until help arrives. After all, if you have a whole team of great players, help is just a few seconds away. If the odds are clearly against you, there is nothing to gain from taking unnecessarily gutsy moves, and there is a lot to lose from this recklessness.

7. They always show up to practice on time. A good forward is not always the player with the most inborn skill, but they are usually the one who is consistent and dogged in their practices. An effective offensive player has the confidence and capability that only practice and drilling can produce.

As you can see, the qualities of a successful forward are all skills that can be taught by good coaches and learned by dedicated players. Although coaches think they want the team with skill and experience, the team that will always win is the one with a great attitude and a mindset that leads them to success. You too can be a highly effective offensive player if you are willing to take your game to the next level.

In a most traditional soccer warm up a ball is put into play because coaches want to get in as many touches as possible on the ball. This is fine; however, from an injury prevention perspective, the muscles need to be warm and prepared to do many movements. It is for this reason that I am introducing you to three non-ball components to a solid warm up.

The components are foam rolling, “active stretching” and “dynamic stretching” (movement).

What is foam rolling and how will it help my performance. The word is slowly getting out about foam rolling or what is known as the “cheap man’s massage”.

For ages we always thought we had to stretch before activity. Then we came across the dynamic warm up. But where does that leave “knotted” muscles?

This is where foam rolling is quite effective in breaking down these knots.
Since foam rollers are expensive and not totally practical you can use a tennis or soccer ball for these exercises.

A muscle is like an elastic band. If the elastic band is knotted and we try to stretch it, it will become tighter and eventually break. If we roll that elastic band back and forth the knot will eventually get loose and unravel.

This is what occurs with foam rolling for muscles. Tennis balls have a great effect.
Try these three exercises with a tennis ball.

1. Standing Floor Reach

A. Stand with your feet shoulder width apart.
B. Reach down and touch the ground keeping your back straight.
C. Place a tennis ball underneath your left foot and roll it back and forth for one minute.
D. Repeat the process for the right foot.
E. Reach down and touch the ground and see if you went further.

2. Glute Roll

A. Sit on the ground with your knees bent, both feet flat.
B. Place a tennis ball under your left glute (buttock muscle). Roll back and forth for 30 seconds
C. Repeat for the right side.

3. Hip Rotator Roll

A. Sit on the ground with your knees bent, both feet flat.
B. Place a tennis ball under your left glute (buttock muscle).
C. Cross the left leg over the right leg such that the left ankle rests just past the right knee.
D. Roll back and forth for thirty seconds.
E. Switch sides.

Active Warm -Up is stretching in place.

The following are examples for the major muscle groups of the lower body:

1. Split Squat- This will “stretch” the front of the thigh and the glute muscles:

A. Place one foot in front of the other. There should be at least 3.5ft to 4ft distance from the toe to heel. The back foot should be on its toes and the front foot flat on the ground
B. Keep the body straight.
C. Hands behind head
D. Drop the back knee to the ground
E. Push up through front heel.
Repeat two more times then switch leg positions and repeat.

2. Stationary Lateral Lunge- This will stretch the “groin” muscles

A. Stand with feet at least 3-4 feet apart.
B. Raise you arms in front of you such that your hands are at shoulder level.
C. Sit in the direction of the left heel. Then sit in the direction of the right heel.
Repeat 3-5 times each leg.

3. Foot to Mouth Stretch.

A. Stand with feet shoulder width apart.
B. Raise left knee to hip height.
C. As you raise the knee turn at the hip such that the foot is moving inwards.
D. Hold your foot with both hands and bring the foot as close as possible to your mouth.
E. Complete 3-5 times each leg.

Now we are ready to for the dynamic aspect of the warm up.

Dynamic Warm Up

Now we want to get the body moving with actions mimic and exaggerate movement patterns in a game.

In soccer there are few common movement patterns that need to be addressed in the warm up so there is carry over into the game. It is my opinion that these movement are completed first with out the ball.

Warming up with a ball limits movement! I know there will be some people that will argue this point; however, it has been my experience that most strains (muscle pulls) and sprains (ligament tears) occur when a warm up is completed with a ball.

In a soccer game we know that the following movements occur: straight leg raise on follow through from a shot on goal, opening the hip to receive a ball, lengthening of the hip flexors muscles on a sprint.

So… how many of these actions are limited if you are warming up with a ball? Most of them…

A good dynamic warm up will include the following movements with progression.

Here is an example of a dynamic warm up:

1. 30 second jog
2. 30 seconds heel to buttocks – then jog 10 seconds
3. 30 seconds Backwards – then jog 10 seconds
4. 30 seconds alternating skips with knee to chest – then jog 10 seconds
5. 30 seconds alternating skips with straight leg raise – then jog 10 seconds
6. 30 seconds alternating knee to hip height then out (as in receiving a pass) – then jog 10 seconds
7. 30 seconds Side to side skips leading with the right leg – then jog 10 seconds
8. 30 seconds Side to side skips leading with the right leg – then jog 10 seconds
9. Backward lunge – emphasizing a stretch at the hip-10 times – then jog 10 seconds
10. Forward lunge – emphasizing a stretch at the hip-10 times – then jog 10 second
11. Three quick steps 5-10 times
12. Skip with clap overhead 30 seconds – then jog 10 seconds
13. Skip with clap in front 30 seconds
14. 3-5 sprints -progress from 50% effort to 100% effort.

Increase the speed of the jog as you get further into the dynamic warm up

Now you can introduce ball work.

It is important that each athlete focuses on the skill of the technique as compared to the speed it is done.

A good first touch is often the difference between winning the ball, or giving the opponent the opportunity to steal it. Your practice plans should emphasis this skill frequently.

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Guest Post by Mike Grafstein of Elite Soccer Power

In a hot climate, regardless if you are in this environment all year round or if it is hot in your spring and summer, you still must be able to train at a the highest intensity possible. It is for that reason you need to be aware of your soccer player’s physical health.

The most important thing is to keep your players hydrated on a consistent basis. First let us take a look at the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Heat exhaustion is the early stage of heat illness and is the most common form you see with soccer training. This occurs after long periods of training in a hot environment.

Heat exhaustion is an early indication that the body’s temperature regulating system is becoming overwhelmed. If not addressed immediately it may lead to heat stroke and death.

Soccer players lose fluid through sweating which decrease blood volume. Blood flows to the skin away from the vital organs like the heart, lungs and kidneys.

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion

Normal or below body temperature
Cool moist pale skin
Headache
Nausea
Dizziness
Weakness
Exhaustion

Heat stroke is the least common and most severe heat related illness. This occurs if you ignore the signs of heat exhaustion. Heat stroke develops when the body’s cooling mechanism cannot function due lack of treatment. Sweating stops and the body cannot cool itself and body temperature rises at a quick rate. Unfortunately if there is no treatment vital organs like the heart, kidney and brain begin to fail. If there is no medical treatment death is imminent!

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Stroke

High body temperature
Red hot dry skin
Progressive loss of consciousness
Rapid, weak pulse,
Rapid, shallow breathing

Here are five things you can do to prevent heat illnesses:

1) Find an area with shade either under tress or a tent. Just getting a player out of the direct heat can help them lower their body temperature.

2) Take a water break every fifteen to twenty minute from soccer training

3) Encourage pre-hydration. Make sure your players have plenty of fluid before soccer training.

4) Immediately after training make sure your soccer players have at least 250ml to 500ml of fluid. A sports drink is good to have for electrolyte balance.

5) Players should avoid eating anything heavy before they train. The less the stomach contains the less stress on the body during training.

Keep this in mind with younger players. They do not have fully developed sweat glands. Youth Soccer players, until they reach puberty, cool down through urination. Many coaches and parents are unaware of this so keep this mind if you are working with younger soccer players.

Finally, training soccer players until exhaustion in the heat will lead to preventable injuries. Sometimes less is better than more. Enjoy your training in the heat.